Counter



. June 11, 1935. SLYE 2,004,881

COUNTER Filed July 5, 1932 I .JM

m By 2 Sheets-Sheet l E. A. SLYEY June 11, 1935.

coumrsn Fil ed July 5, 1952 2 Sh eetS Sheet 2 I Eon/2R0 LY ATTOR 'EY.

type. Afurther looking in the opposite UNITED STATES PATENTIOIFFICEICOUNTER Edward A.

Connecticut Application July 5, 1932, Serial No. 620,822

31 Claims.

My invention relates to counters.

It has among its objects to provide an improved counter; and, moreparticularly; an improved counter of the internal transfer pinion videan improve object of my invention is to prod and accurate counter ofthis type having positive locking mechanism and cooperating resettingmeans for resetting the several units while the locking mechanismcontinues to lock the latter. A still further vention is to provide suchan object of my inimproved mechanism including the above features andespecially adapted to use as a trip section in the odometer of acombined speedometer and odometer, while also having an improvedstructure and improved means for connecting and mo parts in and foroperatively unting the several a single unit forming the trip section,mounting'the latter in the odometer. These and other objects andadvantages of my improved construction will, however,

hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying for purposes of illustration,

drawings, I have shown one embodiment which myinvention may assume inpractice.

In these drawings,-

Figure ometer and odometer trip section and mounted in a with a tripsection resetting exposed position beneath the illustration;

1 is an elevation of a'combined speedembodying my improved portion of adash, member shown in dash to facilitate structure shown in Fig. thedriving end thereof 2 as it would appear from when in a speedometercasing, the latter being shown in dotted lines and certain of themechanism tion also being indicated Fig. 4 is a still further enlcounter portion of the inside the tripsecin dotted lines;

arged. view of the trip section, certain of the parts being shown insection on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevation the trip section; I

Fig. 6 is a section on Fig. '7 is a section on Fig. 8 is an edge view ofof the opposite end of line 6-6 of Fig. 4; line 'I-'I of'Fig. 4, i. e.

direction from Figure 6;

the transfer pinion carrying partition plate shown in Figure '7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged end vi pinion shown in Figure '7;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of that pinion;

Fig. 11 is a sectionon line I ew of the transfer I--II of Figure 4;

a corporation of Fig. 12 is a section'on line I2--I2 of Figure 4;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the number wheel as viewed from thesection line I I-I I of Figure 4 with the gear and pawl plate removed;

Fig. 14 is an elevation of the gear and pawl plate as seen from lineII-l I of Figure 4, the transfer pinionv being removed;

Fig. 15 is a view of the opposite side of the gear and pawl plate fromthat shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is 'a perspective view of the main plate or casing member, and rFig. 17 is a plan view of one of the spacing strips. 1

In this illustrative construction, in Figured an improved trip section,generally indicated at I, which may include any suitable number, ofnumber wheels, herein 2, 3, 4 and 5, co-axially arranged and disposedbehind the dial 6 of. a combined speedometer and odometer in a usualinstrument board I and adapted to be set by a knob'or member 8, thistrip section being .of an improved construction hereinafter described.

v Referring more particularly to the mounting of the trip section I, itwill be noted'that as shown-.in Figure 2, it is carried on a singleaxial shaft 9, rotatably mounted at its opposite ends in suitablebearings through the number wheels 2, 3, 4 and 5. As shown, it alsoextends through a unit forming main frame II which suitably positionsthe several wheel in fixed positions longitudinally relative to'theshaft and is itself suitably positioned in fixed relation to Herein,this frame II has a disc like end portion I2, adjacent the wheel 2 andis also adapted to be positioned in fixed longitudinal relation to theshaft 9 by a usual spring ring- I3 received .in a corresponding groovenear one end of the shaft .9. Further, this portion I2 has a dependinglug I4 slotted to receive any suitable means as, for example, a screw,threaded into a portion I5 stationary on the speedometer frame, toposition the frame I I against rotation or longitudinal movement. Asshown, the frame ll also has a pair of oppositely located,longitudinally. extend ing narrow extensions'IB, which extend along onopposite sides of the wheels 2, 3, 4 and! and through apertures ll in a;series of spacing or partitionplates I8, herein three, disposed betweenthe wheels 2 and 3, 3 and l, and 4 and 5. It will also be noted thatspacing strips IS herein having series of oppositely located notches 20in' their opposite edges, are disposed in the apertures [1 inside theextensions l6 and that lugs 2| on op- I have shown I0, and extendingaxially the speedometer casing.

posite sides of the apertures ll are disposed in these notches 20. Thus,it will be observed that the several" partition plates I8 arepositionedby the'spacing strips l9, and that the latter and thepartition plates are also positioned by the portions it of the mainframe I l while the latter is held in position by the spring ring I73,all in such manner as to provide a unitary construction adapted to beheld definitely in position and 10 at the same time to be quicklyassembled or disassembled as desired.

Referring to the driving and reset operating connections controlled bythe knob 8 and operative upon the number wheels], 3, 4 and 5, it

will be noted that these connections are of a usual type. Herein thedriving connections include a gear on the right hand end of the shaft 8,(Fig. 2), adapted to be moved longitudinally into or out of engagementwith any suitable 2a co-operating driving gear or pinion 26 driven fromany suitable source of power, as for example the wheels of the vehicleor other part moving when the wheels are moving. Herein, this gear 25rotates as a unit on the shaft t with a usual 25 bevel pinion 21 and ausual reciprocable driving sieeve28 having a conical cam at its endadjacent the wheel 5, and the unit is normally pro- Iiected over to theright from the full line position shown in Figure 2 by a coaxial coiledspring 30 29, acting between the member 28 and the first wheel 5, insuch manner that the gear 25 is,

as usual, normally in mesh with and driven by its driving gear 26.Herein, the operating knob or member 8, which is as usual bothreciprocally and rotatably mounted in a suitable support 30, is alsoprovided with a usual conical end 3i adapted upon reciprocatiori'toengage the conical cam on the member 28 and force the latter from itscounting or dotted line position, shown in Fig. 2, into its resetting orfull line position illustrated therein, while a usual beveled gear 32,rotatable with member 8, meshes with the beveled-pinion 2! when theparts are in that position and isthus adapted to rotate the latter gearupon rotation of the member 8. Thus, it will be evidentthat when theparts are in the dotted line position, shown in Fig. 2, rotation will beimparted to the member 28 from the driving member 26 in such manner thatthe member 28 and the first wheel 5 will be rotated to effect countingin a usual manner on the associated number wheels, while, when the partsare in the full line position illustrated therein, the driving member 26will be disconnected and the wheel 5 and its and itsassociated wheelsmay be independently turned thereof upon rotation of the member 8.

Operatively associated with the driving and setting mechanism describedis the counting r'necha ism associated with the wheels2, 3, 4 and ,5.andwhich is, broadly speaking, operative by the driving member26 'and setby the setting member 8 in a generally well-known manner. Herein,however, this mechanism is, of an improved construction and includes notonly an improved structure of the internal transfer pinion type, butalsoan improved construction including positive locking means for thetransfer pinions and improved quick resetting-mechanism "associated withthe wheels and adapted to 7o reset the same while thelocking mechanismcontinues to lock the several units, all in such manner as, while,"producing a construction which is very quickly and easily reset, alsoto produce an exceedingly accurate construction in which 75 there is nochance of splitting a tooth,

Referring first to the counting mechanism, as distinguished from theresetting. mechanism, it will be noted that the wheel 5, which as usualin a trip section is graduated to represent tenths of a mile, isprovided with a hub portion 35 around which the spring 29 is disposedand which has an abutment 35, against which one end of this spring acts.This hub portion is herein, as. preferably formed integral with thewheel 5 and is also suitably fixed to the non-reciprocable, rotatableshaft 9, as by a pin 31. Sockets 38 are also provided in this hubportion at right angles to the pin in order to permit adjustment ofternal transfer pinion 39 carried by that plate,

while said pinion in turn co-operates with a gear and pawl plate 40 onthe opposite side of the partition plate l8 and the plate 40 is in turn,cperatively connected to the second number wheel 4 through improvedclutch connections hereinafter described.

Inasmuch as the mechanism from the inside face of the wheel 5.to andincluding the right hand face of the wheel 4 is the same in each pair ofwheels, it is thus necessary only to describe this structure inconnection with the single pair of wheels comprising the wheels 5, 4.

More particularly, it will be observed that the.

inner face of the wheel 5 is, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, provided withan annular locking surface orlocking ring 4| projecting laterallytherefrom toward the partition plate l8 and relatively closely adjacentthe,periphery of the wheel while providing an open space 4| inside thering 4|, permitting the wheel 5 to rotate freely about the pinion 39.This locking ringis provided with a single tooth aperture 42 whichextends through a lateral projection 43 onthe surface of ring 4i and isadapted to receive the adjacent end of one of the long teeth 44, hereinthree in number, on the transfer pinion 39. Thus, during rotationof thewheel 5, the pinion 39 will be locked against rotation save when saidaperture 42 is opposite one of the pinion teeth 4% while the wheel 5 atany time may rotate freely about the pinion. As shown herein, thetransfer pinion 39 is ofa usual mutilated type and has its long teeth 44extending clear acrossthe same, andalso "has intermediate shorter teeth45 on one end provided between corresponding end portions of the teeth44, while the opposite end portions of the teeth 44, i. e. thoseportions of the same which engage in the aperture 42, arebeveled off attheir sides as illustrated.

Herein, this transfer pinion 39 is rotatably mounted on .a pin 46 which,in turn, has its end remote from the wheel 5 fixed to an inwardlybentarcuately disposed strip 4! on the adjacent partition plate l8,while this strip is disposed in such manner that the transfer pinion onthe pin has its opposite ends accessible from opposite sides of theplate. Here, it will also be noted that the plate 18 is formed of asingle thickness of sheet metal and that this strip 41 is struck uptherefrom and provided with an intermediate portion 48 parallel to theplane of the plate l8 and spaced therefrom, on which the pin 46 isfixed, this portion 48 herein being connected to the body of the plateby'inclined portions at its opposite ends. Further, it will be notedthat the strip is spaced from the periphery of the plate l8 by anarcuate slot 49 and that it is also spaced on. its opposite side fromthe body of the plate by a corresponding but shorter and narrower slot50 in such manner as to leave a portion of metal surrounding the axialaperture 52 in the partition plate through which the shaft 9 extends. IOperatively associated with the ends of the transfer pinion teeth 44 and45 which extend through the partition plate I8, is the gear and pawlcarrying plate "40 having teeth 53 around its inner periphery andaccordingly adapted to be rotated when the transfer pinion is rotated.As shown, this gear and pawl plate 40 is also suitably cut away aroundits axis, as shown at 54, in such manner as to permit it to house theportion 48 on the partition plate and rotate about the pinion 39.Herein, the same is also provided with a hub portion 55 which extendstoward the plate l8 and is rotatable on a corresponding hub portion 56on that side of the wheel 4. The opposite face of the gearandpawl plate49, as shown in Figure 15, is alsoprovided with a laterally projectingreduced portion 40, herein substantially oval and having oppositelydisposed, generally T- shaped spring retaining slots 51 in its ends.These slots 51 are'adapted to receive the bent ends 58 of spring pawlmembers 59 having bent free ends 69 and two such slots 51 and springmembers 59 arepreferably provided on the plate 40, the springs hereinbeing oppositely located and extending clockwise, as shown in Figure 15..To facilitate assembly, each slot 5? is also preferably widened at itsbase to enable it to receive and position the'end portion 58 of a spring59 at either side of the same in reverse positions of the spring. Thesesprings 59; in turn, have their ends 60 received in spaces. 6| betweenteeth 62 on the adjacent face of the wheel 4,'ten such spaces and teethbeing herein illustrated. Attention is also directed to the fact thatthese teeth are herein spaced inward or to the left from the right handedgeof plate 49, Fig. 4, in such manner as to permit the latter to behoused within the lateral limitsof the wheel 4.

, As a-result of the provision of this mechanism, it will be evidentthat when the first wheel 5 is rotated as. before described, thetransfer .pinion 39 will be locked against rotation and according- Ilyhold the gear andpawl plate 49 against rotation until one of the teeth44 on the pinion 39 comes opposite the aperture .42 in the locking ring4|.- Then, the wheel 5 having made a complete revolution the transferpinion 39 will be actuated in such manner as, with the gear 40 and wheel4 then moving together, to advance the number wheel 4 pne tenth of arevolution, i. e. to register in a welleknownmanner. Similarly, themecha-' nism beingthe same between each set of adjacent number wheels,the number wheel4 will, upon the completiomofa completerevolution,'actuate the number wheel 3 through a tenth of a revolutionand the latter wheel will similarly actuate the wheel 2 ma well-knownmanner. Thus it will be evident that all of the wheels, through thelocking mechanism provided, are locked in such manner as to insure aaccurate counfiwhen operated.

' Referring to the resetting mechanism, itwill be noted that the shaft 9is provided throughout its length with an angled notch 65 andthat thenumber wheels 4, 3 and 2 each carry pawlmecha nism adapted to co-operatewith this notch. Inasmuch as the resetting mechanism on each numberwheel 2, 3 and 4 is the same, it is sufficient to describe that on wheel4. More particularly, it will be noted that, as shown in Figure 13, thelatter wheel is provided with a longitudinal pawl slot 66 in its hub 59and also with a substantially segmental pawl aperture 61 opposite thisslot. In this aperture 61, a pawl 68 is pivoted at 69 and adapted tomove toward and from the surface of the shaft 9, while normally beingpressed toward the latter by a spring 19 having a bent end ll seated ina corresponding slot in the inner face of the wheel 4 at one end of theaperture 61..

Further, it will benoted that, by reason of the spring clutchtherebetween, the wheel 4 is rotatable relative to its gear 40 whichremains station 'ary by reason of the action of the locking mechanism)Thus, it will be evident that when the member 8 is pushed in todisconnect the gears Hand 26, as shown in full lines in Figure 2, and isthen rotated to the right (Fig. 2), the shaft 9 will be rotated in acounterclockwise direction (Fig. 3), by reason of its pin connection 31to the hub 35 of the first wheel 5. As a result, the. notch 65 in theshaft will pick up the pawls 68 of the several number wheels 4, 3 and 2,and cause these wheels to be rotated back to zero, the same thenrotating relative tothe gear and pawl carrying plates 49 which willremain stationary due to the action of the locking mechanism. Forexample, assuming the initial reading to be 3.9, the tenths wheel willfirst rotate reversely as shown in Figure 2,, or counterclockwise asshown in Figure 13, until it indicates 3, and then the units wheel willbe picked up in a usual manner and move with it so that the nextindications will be 2.2, 1.1 and 0.0. It will also be evident that allof the wheels 5, 4, 3 and 2, will be reset in a single reverserevolution "or less of the shaft Band that when the member 8 is releasedor pulled out to its normal position, shown in dotted lines in Figure 2,the spring 29 will again cause the gears 25 and 26 to be engaged, alsoas shown in dotted lines, as soon as the beveled pinion 32 disengagesthe beveled pinion 21 and the cam portion 3| of the member 8 releasesthe cam 28. I I By my improved construction; it is made possible for thenumber wheels to be rotated. rela-' tive to their respective gears insuch manner as to permit resetting while still utilizing positivelocking mechanism. Attention is further directed to thef'act that thislocking of the several units continues throughout the resettingoperation, my improved constructionbeing such that the unit's continueto be positively locked- 5, 4, 3 and 2, it is possible to set the numberwheels very conveniently at any predetermined reading; ,For example,when using a guidebook in touring, and coming from a cross road to aplace said by the book to be 111.1 miles (or 222.2, 333.3, etc.) fromanother place and on a route to the latter appearing in the book, it ispossible, by rotating the wheels reversely through my improved uickresetting mechanism, to set the same to indicate 111.1 miles ,or (222.2,333.3 etc.)

them reversely through the quick reset mechanism to the nearest numberwhich can be presented thereby, here 111.1, and then again reversing thedirection of rotation of the member 8 until the wheels indicate 125,after which the member 8 may be allowed to return to its normal posittion.

As a result of my improved construction, it

.will also be noted that it is made possible *to obtain a quick reset ofthe several units 'by rotating an axial reset shaft extendingtherethrough, and also to obtain a more slow resetting drive of theunits through their transfer mechanism while rotating the same about theaxis of this shaft, all while using a longitudinally fixed v resettingshaft and thus avoiding the necessity for providing both a reciprocablereset shaft and means-for reciprocating thesame. It will also be notedthat while obtaining these advantages it is also made possible tomountthe drive controlling connections reciprocably and rotatably on theshaft and within the longitudinal limits thereof. Thus it is possible toobtain at will from a common actuator, a rotation of the reset shaft.

to effect a quick reset or the shifting of the drive controllingmechanism longitudinally of the shaft and" the subsequent rotation ofthe units thereby through their transfer mechanism during a slow reset,as, for example, when turning from a reading of 111.1 to 125; all asdistinguished from the, constructions of the prior art requiring areciprocable shaft .and drive controlling means for reciprocating theshaft disposed beyond the end skilledin the art."

of the latter, or the use of a stationary stud in lieuof a shaft andincapable of effecting a quick reset, or a selective quick or slowreset. It will also be noted that although in the illustrativeconstruction, the first unit is rotatable with the resetting shaftduring quick resetting, all necessity for shifting the shaftlongitudinally, or any of the units longitudinally withthe shaft is alsoobviated by my improved construction. These and other advantages of myimproved construction will, however,

'While I have in this application specifically described one embodimentwhich my invention may assume in practicefit will be understood thatthis form of the same has been described for illustrative purposes, andthatthe invention may be modifled and embodied in variousother formswithout departing from its spirit -,the appended claims.

What vI claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-'

1. In a counter, a plurality of number wheels having a. longitudinallyfixed axial resetting shaft, internal transfer mechanism between saidwheels having positive locking mechanism, driving mechanism for saidwheels, and mechanism for disconnecting said driving mechanism andresetting said wheels while said transfer mechanism is locked.

2. In av counter, a plurality of number wheels,

,reversely rotatable to drive be clearly apparent to those or the scopeof internal transfer-means therebetween including a transfer pinion:rotatable Iockingmeans for said transfer pinion, a longitudinally fixeddriving shaft for said wheels, and means for resetting said wheels uponreverse rotation of said shaft while said locking means continues tolock the parts.

3. In a counter, a plurality of coaxial number wheels, internal transfermechanism therebetween including a transfer pinion and a cooperatinglocking ring 'carried by the'driving wheel and positively locking saidtransfer pinion, driving mechanism for said wheels, and mechanism fordisconnecting said driving mechanism and resetting said wheelstvhilesaidpinion is locked by said ring including a. longitudinally fixed resetshaft, an actuator, and operative connections selectively operable uponreverse rotations of said actuator for driving said wheels and forrotating said reset shaft to effect a quick reset of said wheels.

4. In a counter, a plurality of number wheels, internal transfermechanismiherebetween including a transfer pinion and gear means 00-operating therewith and rotatable with different wheels, holding meansfor said transfer pinion carried by one of said wheels, and resettingmechanism for the other wheels operative upon rotation of said wheelcarrying said holding ,means including wheel carried reset pawl meansand a grooved longitudinally 'flxed reset shaft said wheels and pick upsaid pawl means.

5. In a counter, a plurality of number wheels, internal transfermechanism therebetween including a transfer pinion and cooperating gearmeans rotatable with different wheels, a'locking ring for positivelylocking said transfer pinion vcarried by the driving wheel, alongitudinally fixed driving shaft fixed to said driving wheel,and-resetting mechanism operative upon the driven wheel upon reverserotation of the. driving wheel and while said locking mechanism remainslocked.

6, In a counter, a plurality of number wheels, internal transfer meanstherebetween including a transfer pinion, gears rotatable with different wheels, locking means for said pinion,

and combined driving and. resetting mechanism including a clutch betweenone of said wheels and the gear carried thereby and a longitudinallyfixed combined driving and resetting shaft reversely operable duringdriving and resetting and connecting or disconnecting said clutch.

7. In a counter, a plurality of number wheels, internal transfer meanstherebetween including a transfer pinion, gears rotatable with differentwheels, and lockingmeans for said pinion, and combineddriving andresetting mechanism in- ]cluding ratchet means between one of saidwheels and a gear. carried thereby-permitting relative rotation between.said wheel and gear during resetting and a longitudinally fixed coma,bined driving and resetting shaft reversely operable during driving andresetting and connecting or disconnecting said elements.

8., In a counter, a plurality of counter wheels, internal transfer meanstherebetween including a transfer pinion, gears rotatable with differentwheels,jand locking means for said pinion, and

resetting mechanism including a clutch betweenone of said wheels and agearn'ormally rotatable :with' the latter, and, means foreffectingrelative rotation between said wheel and said gear is- I setting meansfor said wheels operative upon a longitudinally fixed reverselyrotatable driv ing and resetting shaft fixed to said driving wheel.

10. In a counter, a plurality of counter wheels,

internal transfer means therebetween including a transfer pinion, gearsrotatable with different units, and locking means for said pinion, andresetting mechanism including a clutch between one of said wheels andthe gear carried thereby, a longitudinally fixed reset shaft extendingthrough said units and driving the driving wheel, and pick up pawl meansfor the driven wheel operative upon reverse rotation of said shaft.

11. In a counter, coaxial driving and driven number wheels, a partitionplate therebetween, a transfer pinion mounted in said partition plate, alocking ring having transfer aperture means therein cooperating withsaid pinion and carried by the driving wheel, a gear plate on theopposite side of said partition plate likewise' cooperating with saidpinion, a clutch between said gear plate and driven number wheelpermitting relative rotation between the same and 'means carried by saida longitudinally fixed reset shaft driving said ating with said saidgear, a longitudinally fixed shaft driving said wheels when rotated inone direction, and

, resetting means for said wheels operable upon reverse rotation of saidshaft.

- l2. In a counter, coaxial driving and driven number wheels, apartition. plate therebetween,

a transfer pinion mounted in said partition plate, a locking ring havingtooth aperture means therein cooperating with said pinion and carried bythe driving wheel, a gear plate on the opposite side of said partitionplate likewise cooperating with said pinion, spring pawl means carriedby said gear plate, cooperating tooth driven number wheel,

wheels when rotating in one direction, and rereverse rotation of saidshaft.

13. In a counter, coaxial driving and driven numberwheels, a partitionplate therebetween, a transfer pinion mounted in said partition plate, alocking ring having tooth aperture means therein and cooperating withsaid pinion carried by the driving wheel, a gear plate on the oppositeside of said partition plate likewise cooperpinion, spring ratchet meansbetween said gear plate and'said driven wheel, and resettingmeans forsaid number wheels including a longitudinally fixed shaft fixed to saiddriving wheel and having a resetting aperture in said shaft, and pawlmeans carried by said driven wheel engageable in said aperture when theshaft is rotated in one direction.

14. In a counter, coaxial driving and driven number wheels, a partitionplate therebetween, a transfer pinion mounted in said partition plate, alockinf ring having tooth aperture means thereln and cooperating withsaid pinion carried by the driving wheel, a gear plate on the oppositeside'of said partition plate likewise cooperating;- with said pinion,spring ratchet means betweensaid gear plate and said driven numberwheel,

of counter wheels, internal transfer mechanism therebetween havingpositive locking means, driving means for the driving wheel, means fordisconnecting the latter from said driving means and rotating the samewhile disconnected including a longitudinally fixed resetting shaft, andcoopating resetting mechanism operative by said shaft for resetting allof said wheels while said transfer mechanism is locked.

16. In a trip section for odometers, a plurality of counter wheels,internal transfer mechanism therebetween having positive locking means,driving means including a reset shaft, means within the longitudinallimits of said shaft for disconnecting said shaft from said drivingmeans and rotating said wheels in opposite directions whiledisconnected, and cooperating resetting mechanism operative uponrotation in one direction for resetting said wheels while said'transfermechan sm is locked.

17. In a trip section for odometers, a plurality of counter wheels,internal transfer mechanism therebetween having positive locking means,a rotatable combined driving and resetting shaft, means within thelongitudinal limits of said shaft operable thereby upon rotation of thelatter in opposite directions for driving 'and resetting said wheels,means for driving said shaft, and means for selectively connecting anddisconnecting said shaft and said driving means.

18. In a trip section for odometers, a plurality of counter wheels,internal transfer mechanism therebetween having positive locking means,a rotatable combined driving and resetting shaft fixed againstlongitudinal movement, means operable thereby upon rotation of thelatter in opposite directions for driving and resetting said wheels,means for driving said shaft, and means for selectively connecting anddisconnecting said shaft and said driving means, said last mentionedmeans being rotatable reversely to rotate said wheels in a forward orreverse direction when said shaft is disconnected from said drivingmeans.

19. In a trip'section for odometers, a plurality of counter wheels,internal transfer mechanism therebetween having positive lockingmechanism, driving means for the driving wheel, means for disconnectingsaid driving means and'rotating the driving wheel in opposite directionswhile disconnected from said driving means including a longitudinallyfixed shaft rotatable with said therebetween having means for positivelylocking said mechanism, driving means for the driving wheel, means fordisconnecting said driving means and rotating the driving wheel ineither direction while disconnected from said driving means including alongitudinally fixed shaftrotatable with said driving wheel, andcooperating resetting mechanism cooperating with each of the wheelsother than the driving wheel operative while said transfer mech anismsare locked and having a non-reversible ratchet between each of saidother wheels and the transfer mechanism connecting said wheel to theadjacent wheel of lower order, and also wheel pick-up means for each ofsaid other wheels operative when said driving wheel is rotated in onedirection. r 21. A trip section for odometers or the like com-- prisingnumber units having transfer mechanism therebetween, quick reset meansfor picking up a plurality of said units and returning them to zerohaving a reset shaft, a driving element for said units shiftablelongitudinally relative to said shaft to disconnect the drive thereof,'areciprocable and oppositely rotatable actuating member, means operativeupon reciprocation of said memher for shifting said element asaforesaid, and means selectively operable by said member upon rotationthereof in opposite directions for effect ing driving of said unitsthrough said driving element or a quick reset of said units through saidreset shaft.

22. A trip section for odometers or the like comprising number unitshaving transfer mechanism therebetwee quick reset means for a pluralityof said units comprising reset pawls thereon and a reset shaft havingmeans cooperating with said pawls to pick up said units, a springpressedclutch member movable longitudinally relative to saidshaft totension its spring and disconnect -said units from the drive thereof, areciprocable and rotatable actuating'member, means for shift-' ing saidclutch member as aforesaid upon reciprocation of said actuating member,and means selectively operable by rotation of said actuating member inopposite directions for effecting a quick reset of said units throughsaid pawls and reset shaft or rotation of said units through said clutchmember and said transfer mechanism.

23. A trip section for odometers or the like comprising number unitshaving transfer mechanism therebetween, quick reset means for aplurality of said units having reset pawls-thereon and a resetshafthaving means cooperating with said pawls to pick up said units, aclutch member movable longitudinally relative to said shaft todisconnect said units from the drive thereof, a reciprocable androtatable actuating member, means for shifting said'clutch'member asaforesaid upon reciprocation of saidresetting member,

and means selectively operable upon. opposite rotations of the latterfollowing clutch shifting for rotating said reset shaft in one directionto drive said units from said shaft through said transfer mechanism andin the opposite'direction to drive said reset shaft to pick up saidpawls and reset said units.

24. A trip section for odometers or the like comprising number unitshaving transfer mechanism therebetween, quick reset means for picking upa plurality of said units and returning them to zero having alongitudinally fixed reset shaft, a driving element for said unitsshiftable longitudinally relative to said shaft to disconnect the drivethereof, a reciprocable and oppositely rotatable actuating member, meansoperative upon-reciprocation of said member for shifting said element asaforesaid; and means selectively operable by said memhaving meansreceiving said and interlocked with said partition plates to in-" berupon rotation thereof in opposite directions for effecting driving ofsaid units through said driving element or a quick reset of through saidreset shaft.

25. In a counter unit, a series of operatively connected number wheelshaving partition plates therebetween and projecting spaced lugs on saidpartition plates, spacing strip means'interlocked with said lugs, and aframe having portions positioning said spacing means and said plates anddisposed between said lugs.

26. In a counter unit, a series of operatively connected number wheelshaving partition plates therebetween and oppositely projecting spacedlugs on said partition plates, spacing strip means interlocked with saidlugs, a frame positioning said spacing means and said plates, .saidframehaving extensions extending longitudinally of said wheels between thespaced lugs on said plates, and means for fixing said frame relative tosaid wheels permitting longitudinal withdrawal of said frame at will.

27. In a counter unit, a series of operatively connected number wheelshaving partition plates therebetween and projecting spaced lugs on saidpartition plates, spacing strips having notched edges interlockedwithsaid lugs and connecting said wheels and plates into a unit, and aframereceiving said unit longitudinally and having portions extending betweensaid spaced lugs externally of said spacing means.

28. In a counter unit, a series of operatively connected number wheelshaving partitionplates therebetween and a protruding shaft, meansinterlocked with said plates operatively connecting said wheels andplates into a unit, a frafne hibit rotation of said unit whilepermitting longitudinal separation, and removable means connecting saidframe to said shaft while enabling longitudinal separation at will.

29. Ina counter unit, a series of .operatively connected number wheelshaving partition plates therebetween and a protruding shaft, meansconnecting said wheels and plates into a unit, a frame having an openend receiving said unit longitudinally therein and a closed end throughwhich said shaft projects; means for inhibiting rotation of said unit insaid frame while per-- mitting longitudinal separation, and removablemeans for connecting said unit and frame against longitudinalseparation.

,30. A partition device for internaLtransfer.

type counters comprising a. single plate having a laterally deflectedstruck upstrip connected'at both ends to said plate and providing atransfer pinion pin seat between its ends, a pin car-' ried on said seatperpendicularly tosaid plate and projecting on' opposite sides of thelatter, and a transfer pinion rotatable on said pin and having itsopposite ends accessible from opposite sides of said plate.

31. A partition device for internal transfer type counters comprising asingle plate having a laterally deflected struck up strip connected atboth ends to said plate and providing a trans fer pinion pin seatbetween its ends, said struck up strip being arcuately disposed andspaced from the periphery of said plate by an arcuate' slot and alsohaving a slot-between said struck' up'strip and the axis of said plate.Y

' nowannasnm.

unit longitudinally said units i

